Understanding the Meaning and Traditions of Lent

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The Direction of Intention
My God, give me the grace to
perform this action with you
and through love for you.
In advance, I offer to you all the
good that I will do and accept all
the difficulty I may meet therein.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us
 
A 40 day “wake” for Jesus.
A season for beating yourself up because
God wants you to feel like a worthless
worm.
A season for everyday self-improvement
projects in the guise of Lenten discipline.
A season for one-upping other Christians
who either don't observe it or who
observe it in different ways according to
their traditions.
A season for earning extra-credit points
with God.
 
First 3 centuries….  3 days of preparation for the
celebration of Easter
Prayer, Fasting, Alms-giving,  an all night Vigil
Some places – A Week – Beginnings of Holy Week
Commemorations of Resurrection(Baptism), Passion and
Burial, The Lord’s Supper
End of 3
rd
 Century – ROME
Extended to three weeks
Became a time of intense preparation for catechumens
4
th
 Century
Christianity legalized
Adoption of 40 Day period of training for catechumens and
the Baptized as a preparation for Baptism and Renewal of
baptismal promises
Middle Ages to Vatican II
Once most were baptized, Fasting and Repentance became
dominant themes – Lent lost its baptismal character.
 
Lent since Vatican II
Vatican II called for a renewal of Lent- recover its
ancient baptismal character
Catechumenate restored with the Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the
Gospel.”- Recalls our baptismal promises to reject
sin and profess our faith
IT IS A CALL TO CONVERSION!
We walk with the Catechumenate so that we will
be prepared to renew our baptismal promises
when Easter arrives.
 
What are the three Pillars of Lent?
Prayer, Fasting and Alms-giving (Works
of Charity)
Fasting
Fasting without changing our behavior is
meaningless: “This, rather, is the fasting I
wish: release those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke; setting
free the oppressed, breaking every yoke;
sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the
homeless; clothing the naked when you
see them, and not turning your back on
your own.” (Is 58:6-7)
Prayer
More prayer should draw us closer to the Lord
Pray for the grace to live out our baptismal
promises more fully
Allows us to be open to God’s direction in our
life
Alms giving – Works of Charity
Sign of our care for those in need
It should involve more than just giving money
Expression of gratitude for all that we have
been given
Works of charity and promotion of justice are
integral elements of the Christian way of life
begun at Baptism.
When does LENT begin and end?
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes prior to
the Commemoration of the Lord’s Supper on Holy
Thursday
Pascal Triduum along with Pascal Fast begins on Holy
Thursday through the beginning of the Great Easter Vigil
on Holy Saturday.
The Sunday’s of Lent are not part of the discipline of
Lent since Sunday celebrates the Resurrection
Where did Ash Wednesday come from?
Following the 4
th
 century, as the penitential nature of
Lent is stressed….it became associated with the 40
days Christ spent in the desert (Gospel for first
Sunday of Lent).
Ash Wednesday is 40 prior to Easter Sunday.
 
Lent since Vatican II
Vatican II called for a renewal of Lent- recover
its ancient baptismal character
Catechumenate restored with the Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
“Turn away from sin and be faithful to the
Gospel.”- Recalls our baptismal promises to
reject sin and profess our faith
IT IS A CALL TO CONTINUED CONVERSION!
We must walk with the Catechumenate so that
we will be prepared to renew our baptismal
promises when Easter arrives.
 
Why Ashes?
The wearing of ashes predates
Christianity.
In the Hebrew Scriptures those who sought
forgiveness would cover themselves in
ashes and wear sackcloth as a sign of
mortification and penance.
“O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth,
roll in the ashes.” (Jer 6:26)
“I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest
prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.” (Dn
9:3)
“When the news reached the king of Nineveh,
he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,
covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in the
ashes.” (Jon 3:16)
 
Why Ashes?
First time we can locate an Ash
Wednesday Liturgy- Romano-
Germanic Pontifical (960)
Before this, ashes were a sign of
admission to the Order of Penitents
Early 11
th 
 Century - Abbot Aelfric
indicated a ceremony the
Wednesday before Lent that
included imposition of ashes.
End of the 11
th Century
- Pope Urban II
called for the general use of ashes
 
Why Ashes?
The ashes are from the burnt palms from the previous
Palm Sunday
Ashes are placed either on the forehead or on the
crown of the head
Remember that You are dust and to dust you shall return
Repent and believe in the Gospel
 
What are the Lenten Regulations for all
Catholics?
Catholics 14 years of age or older are to
abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all
the Fridays of Lent. Catholics between the
ages of 14 and 59 are also to fast on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday. If one's work or
health make it inadvisable fast or abstain
from meat, they are not obligated to do so.
Fasting means to limit food to one full meal a
day with the possibility of two smaller meals
(not adding up to a full meal) as needed.
A
bstinence means not eating meat, although
fish is allowed.
Easter Duty
All Catholics who have received their First
Communion are obligated to receive the Eucharist
between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday
Obliged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
once a year
*** The Sundays of Lent and Solemnities are
not Lenten Fast Days
Solemnity of St. Joseph – March 19
th
Solemnity of the Annunciation – March 25
Catholics and Fish during Lent?
There is no law that Catholics must eat fish on
Friday’s during Lent or any other time. Over the
centuries custom has dictated that Catholics
abstain from meat (the flesh of warm-blooded
animals) on certain days (chiefly Friday).
A matter of choice.
Urban Legend – Some pope in the Middle Ages
ordered Catholics to eat fish to help out
fishermen.
Abstinence has its roots in the Old Testament to atone
for sins
The first mention of fasting in Christian literature is
found in the Didache, written in or around 90 A.D.
 
Why abstain from meat?
Meat is a chief part of most meals served in most
places, and since meat is usually the most valued or
expensive part of a meal, abstinence from meat on
Fridays is a good way for Christians to unite themselves
more closely to the sufferings of their Lord (Rom. 8:16-
17, 1 Pet. 2:21) by denying themselves something they
enjoy.
Abstinence from meat is a sacrifice which us in penance
and strengthens the solidarity of the Church through
mild suffering. It's also a good form of mortification,
which disciplines the soul and strengthens its resistance
to concupiscence.
Paul practiced and recommended mortification: "I drive my
body and train it, for fear that after having preached to
others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27).
During Lent all memorials of saints, whether
obligatory or optional, are deemed
"commemorations" and their celebration is
more limited than in other times. In all
cases, their celebration is optional even for
memorials that would be obligatory outside
of Lent.
For Example – St. Patrick’s Day – Liturgically
speaking is not celebrated…but commemorated.
Only two exceptions are the Solemnities of St.
Joseph (March 19) and the 
Annunciation 
 
Stations of the Cross -  Via Sacra - Via
Dolorosa(suffering) – Via Croce
To commemorate the pilgrimage people made
to Jerusalem prior to 15
th
 century
Series of chapels along the Via Dolorosa in
Jerusalem
11 or 13?
Crusades and the Franciscans
15
th
 Century – English Pilgrim first to mention
“stations”
Franciscans began to construct “stations” in
their churches
1862 – right to have Stations of the Cross in
parish churches granted to Universal Church
Number set at 14
 
Pope John Paul II introduced a new form of devotion,
called the Scriptural Way of the Cross on Good Friday
1991.
Pope Benedict XVI approved this set of stations for
meditation and public celebration:
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested
Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin
Jesus is denied by Peter
Jesus is judged by Pilate
Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
Jesus takes up His cross
Jesus is helped by Simon to carry His cross
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Jesus is crucified
Jesus promises His kingdom to the repentant thief
Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other
Jesus dies on the cross
Jesus is laid in the tomb
 
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Lent is a sacred season observed by Christians, historically rooted in prayer, fasting, and alms-giving. Over the centuries, Lent has evolved, with Vatican II emphasizing its baptismal character and call to conversion. Learn about the pillars of Lent and dispel common misconceptions about this period of spiritual reflection and preparation.


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  1. THE SEASON OF LENT

  2. The Direction of Intention My God, give me the grace to perform this action with you and through love for you. In advance, I offer to you all the good that I will do and accept all the difficulty I may meet therein. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pray for us. St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us

  3. WHAT LENT IS NOT. A 40 day wake for Jesus. A season for beating yourself up because God wants you to feel like a worthless worm. A season for everyday self-improvement projects in the guise of Lenten discipline. A season for one-upping other Christians who either don't observe it or who observe it in different ways according to their traditions. A season for earning extra-credit points with God.

  4. WHAT LENT WAS . First 3 centuries . 3 days of preparation for the celebration of Easter Prayer, Fasting, Alms-giving, an all night Vigil Some places A Week Beginnings of Holy Week Commemorations of Resurrection(Baptism), Passion and Burial, The Lord s Supper End of 3rdCentury ROME Extended to three weeks Became a time of intense preparation for catechumens 4thCentury Christianity legalized Adoption of 40 Day period of training for catechumens and the Baptized as a preparation for Baptism and Renewal of baptismal promises Middle Ages to Vatican II Once most were baptized, Fasting and Repentance became dominant themes Lent lost its baptismal character.

  5. WHAT LENT IS. Lent since Vatican II Vatican II called for a renewal of Lent- recover its ancient baptismal character Catechumenate restored with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. - Recalls our baptismal promises to reject sin and profess our faith IT IS A CALL TO CONVERSION! We walk with the Catechumenate so that we will be prepared to renew our baptismal promises when Easter arrives.

  6. WHAT LENT IS. What are the three Pillars of Lent? Prayer, Fasting and Alms-giving (Works of Charity) Fasting Fasting without changing our behavior is meaningless: This, rather, is the fasting I wish: release those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. (Is 58:6-7)

  7. WHAT LENT IS. Prayer More prayer should draw us closer to the Lord Pray for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully Allows us to be open to God s direction in our life Alms giving Works of Charity Sign of our care for those in need It should involve more than just giving money Expression of gratitude for all that we have been given Works of charity and promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life begun at Baptism. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_blMH8OhgwZQ/SaN6fDY0g3I/AAAAAAAABO4/jQrLEiZ6apI/s400/iStock_000003420105XSmall.jpg

  8. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! When does LENT begin and end? Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes prior to the Commemoration of the Lord s Supper on Holy Thursday Pascal Triduum along with Pascal Fast begins on Holy Thursday through the beginning of the Great Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The Sunday s of Lent are not part of the discipline of Lent since Sunday celebrates the Resurrection Where did Ash Wednesday come from? Following the 4thcentury, as the penitential nature of Lent is stressed .it became associated with the 40 days Christ spent in the desert (Gospel for first Sunday of Lent). Ash Wednesday is 40 prior to Easter Sunday.

  9. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Lent since Vatican II Vatican II called for a renewal of Lent- recover its ancient baptismal character Catechumenate restored with the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. - Recalls our baptismal promises to reject sin and profess our faith IT IS A CALL TO CONTINUED CONVERSION! We must walk with the Catechumenate so that we will be prepared to renew our baptismal promises when Easter arrives.

  10. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Why Ashes? The wearing of ashes predates Christianity. In the Hebrew Scriptures those who sought forgiveness would cover themselves in ashes and wear sackcloth as a sign of mortification and penance. O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes. (Jer 6:26) I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (Dn 9:3) When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself in sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. (Jon 3:16)

  11. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Why Ashes? First time we can locate an Ash Wednesday Liturgy- Romano- Germanic Pontifical (960) Before this, ashes were a sign of admission to the Order of Penitents Early 11th Century - Abbot Aelfric indicated a ceremony the Wednesday before Lent that included imposition of ashes. End of the 11th Century- Pope Urban II called for the general use of ashes

  12. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Why Ashes? The ashes are from the burnt palms from the previous Palm Sunday Ashes are placed either on the forehead or on the crown of the head Remember that You are dust and to dust you shall return Repent and believe in the Gospel

  13. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! What are the Lenten Regulations for all Catholics? Catholics 14 years of age or older are to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent. Catholics between the ages of 14 and 59 are also to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. If one's work or health make it inadvisable fast or abstain from meat, they are not obligated to do so. Fasting means to limit food to one full meal a day with the possibility of two smaller meals (not adding up to a full meal) as needed.

  14. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Abstinence means not eating meat, although fish is allowed. Easter Duty All Catholics who have received their First Communion are obligated to receive the Eucharist between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday Obliged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation once a year *** The Sundays of Lent and Solemnities are not Lenten Fast Days Solemnity of St. Joseph March 19th Solemnity of the Annunciation March 25

  15. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Catholics and Fish during Lent? There is no law that Catholics must eat fish on Friday s during Lent or any other time. Over the centuries custom has dictated that Catholics abstain from meat (the flesh of warm-blooded animals) on certain days (chiefly Friday). A matter of choice. Urban Legend Some pope in the Middle Ages ordered Catholics to eat fish to help out fishermen. Abstinence has its roots in the Old Testament to atone for sins The first mention of fasting in Christian literature is found in the Didache, written in or around 90 A.D.

  16. ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT LENT BUT WE AFRAID TO ASK! Why abstain from meat? Meat is a chief part of most meals served in most places, and since meat is usually the most valued or expensive part of a meal, abstinence from meat on Fridays is a good way for Christians to unite themselves more closely to the sufferings of their Lord (Rom. 8:16- 17, 1 Pet. 2:21) by denying themselves something they enjoy. Abstinence from meat is a sacrifice which us in penance and strengthens the solidarity of the Church through mild suffering. It's also a good form of mortification, which disciplines the soul and strengthens its resistance to concupiscence. Paul practiced and recommended mortification: "I drive my body and train it, for fear that after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27).

  17. LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS DURING LENT During Lent all memorials of saints, whether obligatory or optional, are deemed "commemorations" and their celebration is more limited than in other times. In all cases, their celebration is optional even for memorials that would be obligatory outside of Lent. For Example St. Patrick s Day Liturgically speaking is not celebrated but commemorated. Only two exceptions are the Solemnities of St. Joseph (March 19) and the Annunciation

  18. LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS DURING LENT Stations of the Cross - Via Sacra - Via Dolorosa(suffering) Via Croce To commemorate the pilgrimage people made to Jerusalem prior to 15thcentury Series of chapels along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem 11 or 13? Crusades and the Franciscans 15thCentury English Pilgrim first to mention stations Franciscans began to construct stations in their churches 1862 right to have Stations of the Cross in parish churches granted to Universal Church Number set at 14

  19. STATIONS OF THE CROSS Pope John Paul II introduced a new form of devotion, called the Scriptural Way of the Cross on Good Friday 1991. Pope Benedict XVI approved this set of stations for meditation and public celebration: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin Jesus is denied by Peter Jesus is judged by Pilate Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns Jesus takes up His cross Jesus is helped by Simon to carry His cross Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem Jesus is crucified Jesus promises His kingdom to the repentant thief Jesus entrusts Mary and John to each other Jesus dies on the cross Jesus is laid in the tomb

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